If you’re giving a commencement speech in 2026, maybe don’t mention AI
Commencement speeches at American universities this year have faced backlash when discussing artificial intelligence. Speakers like Gloria Caulfield and Eric Schmidt experienced booing from students, reflecting concerns about the future shaped by AI. While some speakers received a more positive reception, the overall sentiment among younger audiences appears to be one of apprehension regarding job prospects and the impact of technology.
- ▪Gloria Caulfield's speech at the University of Central Florida was met with booing when she mentioned AI as the next industrial revolution.
- ▪Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt faced similar pushback at the University of Arizona, with students expressing discontent even before he took the stage.
- ▪A Gallup poll revealed that only 43% of Americans aged 15 to 34 feel it's a good time to find a job locally, a significant decline from previous years.
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| Canonical URL | https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/17/if-youre-giving-a-commencement-speech-in-2026-maybe-dont-mention-ai/ |
| Publication time | Sun, 17 May 2026 16:32:04 +0000 |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
It’s commencement season at American universities — and this year, at least a couple speakers have discovered that it’s tough to get graduating students excited about a future shaped by artificial intelligence. Last week, Gloria Caulfield, an executive at real estate firm Tavistock Development Company, gave a speech at the University of Central Florida acknowledging that we’re living in a time of “profound change,” which can be both “exciting” and “daunting.” “The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution,” Caulfield declared — prompting the students in the audience to begin booing, getting louder and louder until Caulfield chuckled, turned to the other speakers, and asked, “What happened?” “Okay, I struck a chord,” she said.
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